Facial recognition based monitoring systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A system to monitor patient position in bed and related methods of use are disclosed. The system to monitor patient position in bed relies on facial recognition and determination of the time spent by the patient in a particular position. Appropriate alarms and messages are displayed if the patient remains in a particular position for a time period greater than a predetermined threshold.

BACKGROUND

Pressure sores are a significant concern for patients with reducedmobility in bed. Monitoring a patient to ensure that a patient has beenre-positioned periodically is a challenging task and while varioussystems and methods exist for monitoring patient position in a bed, aneed exists for continued development in this area.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure includes one or more of the features recited inthe appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in anycombination, may comprise patentable subject matter.

One embodiment of the system for monitoring person position in a personsupport apparatus comprises a person support apparatus comprising alower frame and a variably elevatable upper frame with respect to thelower frame and at least one side rail defining the lateral extremity ofsaid person support apparatus. At least one image capture device iscoupled to the person support apparatus. A processor configured tocommunicate with the image capture device, the processor configured todetect facial features from the communication, and a timer incommunication with the processor. The timer is configured to reset to apredetermined value upon receiving a command from the processorindicating motion of a person supported by a person support apparatushas exceeded a predetermined threshold, as determined by the processorupon processing the communication from the image capture device.

One embodiment of the system for monitoring person position in a personsupport apparatus comprises at least one image capture device, aprocessor in communication with the image capture device, the processorconfigured to detect facial features from the communication, and a timerin communication with the processor. The timer is configured to reset toa predetermined value upon receiving a command from the processorindicating motion of a person supported by a person support apparatushas exceeded a predetermined threshold, as determined by the processorupon processing the communication from the image capture device.

One embodiment of the method for monitoring person position in a personsupport apparatus comprises capturing a first image and determining if aperson is in a first position, capturing a second image if a person isnot in the first position, and determining if a person is in a secondposition. The method further comprises capturing a third image if aperson is not in the second position and determining if a person is in athird position.

Another embodiment of the method for monitoring person position in aperson support apparatus comprises capturing an image, determining atleast one facial feature from the image, determining motion of the atleast one facial feature over a predetermined period of time andtriggering an alarm if the motion over the predetermined period of timeis less than a predetermined threshold.

Another embodiment of the system for monitoring person position in aperson support apparatus comprises at least one image capture device anda processor in communication with the image capture device. Theprocessor is configured to detect facial features from thecommunication. The processor comprises a timer configured to reset to apredetermined value indicating motion of a person supported by a personsupport apparatus has exceeded a predetermined threshold, as determinedby the processor, upon processing the communication from the at leastone image capture device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification illustrate several aspects of the claimed subject matterand, together with the description, serve to explain the principles ofthe claimed subject matter. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a person supportapparatus comprising a system for monitoring person position,constructed according to one or more of the principles disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another one embodiment of a personsupport apparatus comprising a system for monitoring person position,constructed according to one or more of the principles disclosed herein;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of yet another one embodiment of a personsupport apparatus comprising a system for monitoring person position,constructed according to one or more of the principles disclosed herein;

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are flow diagrams describing an algorithmof a system for monitoring person position in a person supportapparatus, constructed according to one or more of the principlesdisclosed herein;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the claimed subject mater and the various featuresand advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with referenceto the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/orillustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the followingdescription. It should be noted that the features illustrated in thedrawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of oneembodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisanwould recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions ofwell-known components and processing techniques may be briefly mentionedor omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of theclaimed subject matter described. The examples used herein are intendedmerely to facilitate an understanding of some ways in which the claimedsubject matter may be practiced and to further enable those of skill inthe art to practice various embodiments of the claimed subject matterdescribed herein. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein aremerely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the scope ofthe claimed subject matter, which is defined solely by the appendedclaims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like referencenumerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

It is understood that the subject matter claimed is not limited to theparticular methodology, protocols, devices, apparatus, materials,applications, etc., described herein, as these may vary. It is also tobe understood that the terminology used herein with respect toembodiments is used for the purpose of describing particular embodimentsonly, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art.

A system for monitoring person position in a person support apparatusaccording to one illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure isshown in FIG. 1. In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 1, theperson support apparatus 10 is a hospital bed. The person supportapparatus 10 includes a lower frame or base 12, a plurality of supports18 coupled with the lower frame 12, and an upper frame 14 supported onthe plurality of supports 18 above the lower frame 12. The upper frame14 is configured to variably elevate with respect to the lower frame 12.The person-support apparatus 10 includes a deck 16 supported on theupper frame 14. The deck 16 of the person-support apparatus 10 includesa head support section HP supporting head of the person, a seat supportsection SP and a foot support section FP supporting feet of the person.The deck 16 further supports a person support surface or a mattress 25as shown in FIG. 1, the mattress 25 may be of foam construction and/ormay comprise air bladders. The person support apparatus 10 may be astretcher or an operating table in another embodiment. The deck 16comprises a section configured to pivot with respect to the lower frame12. The person support apparatus 10 also comprises siderails whichdefine the lateral extremities of the persona support apparatus.Siderails are configured to actuate between at least two positions, anupper deployed position and a lower stowed position. In the upperdeployed position the top extreme of the siderails is higher than theperson support surface 25. FIG. 1 shows a system for monitoring personposition in a person support apparatus comprising at least one imagecapture device 28 embedded in the side rail 20. Additionally, an imagecapturing device is positioned in the head board 22. The image capturedevice 28 is configured to capturing images in any electromagneticfrequency range, including the infra-red spectrum and the visiblespectrum. In one embodiment, the image capture device 28 is configuredto capture images in wavelength range of 380 nanometers to 740nanometers with a frequency range of 405 Terahertz to 790 Terahertz. Inthe illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an image capture device 28is mounted on a side rail 20 on each side of the person supportapparatus 10. In addition, an image capture device 28 is mounted on thehead board 22. In another embodiment, an image capture device 28 may bemounted on the foot board 24. A processor 30 is in communication with atleast one image capture device 28 and receives images taken by thedevices. The processor 30 can be any device configured to receive atleast one input signal and in one embodiment have the capability toprovide at least one output signal. Several types of processors are wellknown, including but not limited to programmable or preprogrammed types.The processor 30 receives signals from the at least one image capturedevice 28 and processes the signals to determine the presence andorientation of facial features. A multitude of techniques may be used todetermine the presence and orientation of facial features, including butnot limited to boundary recognition, feature recognition, Eigen facerecognition techniques, Fisher face recognition techniques andfeature-based graph recognition techniques. In this embodiment at leastone facial feature, including but not limited to the position of eyelids, position of eyes, position of nose, position of lips and positionof at least one ear can be determined In one embodiment, the position ofthe eye lids is used to determine whether the patient is asleep. A timer32 is configured to reset to a predetermined value when a change inpatient position in excess of a predetermined threshold is detected bythe processor. The timer 32 as shown in FIG. 1 functions based on theprocessor 30 clock in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the timer32 is a separate device in communication with the processor and whichresets to a predetermined value upon getting a signal from the processor30. The timer 32 may be a counter and/or a routine based indirectly ontime, calculated by running a cyclical chain of operations in oneembodiment. Therefore, the timer 32 is configured to determine thelength of time a patient is in any one position and resets when thepatient changes position. The processor 30 is in communication with aGraphical User Interface (GUI) 46 to display alarms and other messages.The GUI 46 is integral to the person support apparatus 10 in oneembodiment and is used to control other functions of the person supportapparatus 10. The GUI 46 also allows for user inputs and commandsincluding, but not limited to set thresholds for the time duration forlack of patient motion, sensitivity of determination of patient motionand value to which the timer 32 may be reset to, up on patient motionbeing detected. These thresholds may be in the form of an upper bound(should not exceed), lower bound (should exceed) and/or a range. Theprocessor 30 is in communication with an alarm 36 and if patient motiondoes not exceed a predetermined threshold for a predetermined timeduration, the processor 30 triggers alarm 36. In one embodiment, theprocessor 30 triggers alarm 36 if the motion of patient's eye lidsrelative to at least one other facial feature does not exceed apredetermined threshold for a predetermined time duration, indicatingthat the patient may be asleep for longer than desired or may beunconscious. A memory 34 in communication with the processor 30 isconfigured to store the time duration elapsed since the motion of thepatient exceeded a predetermined threshold. The memory 34 in anotherembodiment stores historical data of patient motion, including the timeduration and the sequence of motion. In this embodiment, the memory 34stores the historical data of alarms and messages generated by theprocessor and/or the user inputs from the GUI 46. The memory 34 may beof any type, including volatile and non-volatile types.

Another system for monitoring person position in a person supportapparatus according to another illustrative embodiment of the currentdisclosure is shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2 at least one imagecapture device 28 is mounted on a side rail 20 on each side of theperson support apparatus 10. Although the figure shows image capturedevices 30 mounted to side rails adjacent to the head support sectionHP, the image capture devices 28 may be mounted to any other side railin another embodiment. A camera support boom 26 is connected to the footboard 24 and supports an image capture device 28. In another embodiment,multiple camera support booms may be utilized and connected to any oneof side rails 20, head board 22 or any other portion of the personsupport apparatus 10. In yet another embodiment, the camera support boom26 may be an independent structure supported by the floor, ceiling oranother piece of furniture. A processor 30 is in communication with theat least one image capture device 28. The processor 30 is also incommunication with a communication network 38. The communication network38 may be of any type, including but not limited to Wide Area Network(WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Virtual Private Network (VPN),telephone lines, optical communications, interne communications ortelex. In this embodiment, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) 46 isconnected to the processor 30 via the communication network 38 andconfigured to display alarms and other messages. The GUI 46 allows foruser inputs and commands including, but not limited to set thresholdsfor the time duration for lack of patient motion, sensitivity ofdetermination of patient motion and value to which a timer may be resetto up on patient motion being detected. In this embodiment the systemfor monitoring person position has a dedicated GUI 46.These thresholdscan be in the form of an upper bound (should not exceed), lower bound(should exceed) and/or a range. In one embodiment, the processor 30receives signals from the at least one image capture device 28 andtransmits the signals via the communication network 38 to a remote dataprocessing station where signals are processed to determine the presenceand orientation of facial features. The duration of activity and/or lackthereof would also be determined at the remote data processing station.Alarms, messages and historical including, but not limited to thosepreviously described are stored in and transmitted from the remote dataprocessing. In another embodiment, the processor 30 receives signalsfrom the at least one image capture device 28 and processes the signalsto determine the presence and orientation of facial features, whilecommunicating a time stamp up on detecting patient motion over apredetermined threshold and/or other alarms described herein.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a system formonitoring person position in a person support apparatus according toone illustrative embodiment of the current disclosure. Three imagecapture devices 28 (left, center and right) are in communication with aprocessor 30, although in other embodiments, any number of image capturedevices 28 may be used. The image capture devices 28 are configured tocapturing images in any electromagnetic frequency range, including theinfra-red spectrum and the visible spectrum. A processor 30 is incommunication with at least one image capture device 28 and receivesimages taken by the devices. The processor 30 can be any deviceconfigured to receive at least one input signal and having thecapability to provide at least one output signal. Several types ofprocessors are well known, including but not limited to programmable orpreprogrammed types. The processor 30 receives signals from the at leastone image capture device 28 and processes the signals to determine thepresence and orientation of facial features. A multitude of techniquesmay be used to determine the presence and orientation of facialfeatures, including but not limited to boundary recognition, featurerecognition, Eigen face recognition techniques, Fisher face recognitiontechniques and feature-based graph recognition techniques. In thisembodiment, the processor 30 processes the signals to determine any oneor combination of facial features, including the position of eye lids,position of eyes, position of nose, position of lips and position of atleast one ear. In this embodiment, the position of the eye lids is usedto determine whether the patient is asleep. Timer 32 is configured toreset to a predetermined value when a change in patient position inexcess of a predetermined threshold is detected by the processor. Thetimer 32 as shown in FIG. 3 functions based on the processor 30 clock inone embodiment. In another embodiment, the timer 32 is a separate devicein communication with the processor and which resets to a predeterminedvalue upon getting a signal from the processor 30. Therefore, the timer32 is configured to determine the length of time a patient is in any oneposition and resets when the patient changes position. In the embodimentof FIG. 3, the processor 30 is in communication with a Graphical UserInterface (GUI) 46 to display alarms and other messages. The GUI 46 isintegral to the person support apparatus 10 in this embodiment and isused to control other functions of the person support apparatus 10. TheGUI 46 also allows for user inputs and commands including, but notlimited to set thresholds for the time duration for lack of patientmotion, sensitivity of determination of patient motion and value towhich the timer 32 may be reset to up on patient motion being detected.These thresholds can be in the form of an upper bound (should notexceed), lower bound (should exceed) and/or a range. The processor 30 isalso in communication with a communication network 38. The communicationnetwork 38 may be of any type, including but not limited to Wide AreaNetwork (WAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Virtual Private Network (VPN),telephone lines, optical communications, interne communications ortelex. The communication network 38 is in communication with at leastone Electronic Medical Record (EMR) 40 or another healthcare informationdatabase, a hospital communication station 44 and a nurse call system42. The communication station 40 is a centralized location wherein oneor more patients may be monitored by a caregiver. In one embodiment thecommunication station 44 may be stationary, while in another embodiment,it may be a mobile unit to accommodate prompt deployment.

The algorithm shown in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B & FIG. 4C describes oneembodiment of the method for monitoring person position 100 in a personsupport apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4A, during operation 102 an imagecapture device positioned generally to the left of the patient supportedby the person support apparatus takes at least one image. The image isthen processed during operation 108 to identify facial characteristicsin the at least one image. A determination is made during operation 110as to whether a face is present in the at least one image and if it isdetermined that a face is present, during operation 112 the time atwhich this determination is made is logged. A determination is madeduring operation 106 as to whether the system has gone through this loopfor greater than a predetermined time period or a number of iterationswith respect to a predetermined threshold. Operation 106 helps determinewhether the patient has been in a position where in their face isgenerally oriented towards the left image capture device for a periodgreater than a predetermined time period. In one embodiment thethreshold is so selected as to identify movement of specific facialfeatures, such as the eyelids remaining closed for duration greater thana predetermined threshold. The threshold may also be adjusted toaccommodate motion of the patient while their face is generally orientedtowards the left image capture device and/or lack thereof. If inoperation 106 it is determined that the system has gone through the loopfor a predetermined time or number of iterations, a message is outputduring operation 104. This message may be in the form of activation ofan audio and/or visual alarm, display of message on the GUI 46 and/ortransmittal over communication network 38. On the other hand if duringoperation 106 it is determined that the system has not gone through theloop for a predetermined time or number of iterations, another image istaken by the image capture device during operation 102. If duringoperation 110 it is determined that a face is not present in the imagetaken, a determination is made that the patient in not facing leftduring operation 114 shown in FIG. 4B.

As described in FIG. 4B, in operation 120 an image capture devicepositioned generally to the right of the person supported by the personsupport apparatus takes at least one image. The image is then processedduring operation 122 to identify facial characteristics in the at leastone image. A determination in made during operation 124 as to whether aface is present in the at least one image and if it is determined that aface is present, during operation 126 the time at which thisdetermination is made is logged. A determination is then made duringoperation 118 as to whether the system has gone through this loop forgreater than a predetermined time period or larger number of iterationsthan a predetermined threshold. Operation 118 determines whether thepatient has been in a position where in their face is generally orientedtowards the right image capture device for a period greater than apredetermined threshold. In one embodiment the threshold may be soselected as to identify movement of specific facial features, such asthe eyelids remaining closed for duration greater than a predeterminedthreshold. The threshold may also be adjusted to accommodate motion ofthe patient while their face is generally oriented towards the rightimage capture device and/or lack thereof. If in operation 118 it isdetermined that the system has gone through the loop for a predeterminedtime or number of iterations, a message is output during operation 116.This message may be in the form of activation of an audio and/or visualalarm, display of message on the GUI 46 and/or transmittal overcommunication network 38. On the other hand if during operation 118 itis determined that the system has not gone through the loop for apredetermined time or number of iterations, another image is taken bythe image capture device during operation 120. During operation 124 ifit is determined that a face is not present in the image taken, adetermination is made that the patient in not facing right duringoperation 130 shown in FIG. 4C.

As shown in FIG. 4C, in operation 136 an image capture device positionedgenerally to capture a plan view/view from the top of the person supportapparatus takes at least one image. The image is then processed duringoperation 138 to identify facial characteristics in the at least oneimage. A determination in made during operation 140 as to whether a faceis present in the at least one image and if it is determined that a faceis present, during operation 142 the time at which this determination ismade is logged. A determination is then made during operation 134 as towhether the system has gone through this loop for greater than apredetermined time period or larger number of iterations than apredetermined threshold. Operation 134 determines whether the patienthas been in a position where in their face is generally oriented upwardstowards ceiling and therefore the center image capture device for aperiod greater than a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment thethreshold may be so selected as to identify movement of specific facialfeatures, such as the eyelids remaining closed for duration greater thana predetermined threshold. The threshold may also be adjusted toaccommodate motion of the patient while their face is generally orientedtowards the right image capture device and/or lack thereof. If inoperation 134 it is determined that the system has gone through the loopfor a predetermined time or number of iterations, a message is outputduring operation 132. This message may be in the form of activation ofan audio and/or visual alarm, display of message on the GUI 46 and/ortransmittal over communication network 38. On the other hand if duringoperation 134 it is determined that the system has not gone through theloop for a predetermined time or number of iterations, another image istaken by the image capture device during operation 136. During operation140 if it is determined that a face is not present in the image taken, adetermination is then made during operation 128 as to whether the systemhas gone through this loop of toggling between the left, right andcenter image capture devices for greater than a predetermined timeperiod or larger number of iterations than a predetermined threshold. Ifin operation 128 it is determined that the system has gone through theloop of toggling between the left, right and center image capturedevices for a predetermined time or number of iterations, adetermination is made the face is obfuscated or the patient is not inbed and a message is output during operation 144. This message may be inthe form of activation of an audio and/or visual alarm, display ofmessage on the GUI 46 and/or transmittal over communication network 38.On the other hand if during operation 128 it is determined that thesystem has not gone through the loop for a predetermined time or numberof iterations, another image is taken by the left image capture deviceduring operation 102 as shown in FIG. 4A.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the various aspectsof the present invention may be embodied as a method, system, orcomputer program product. Moreover, the various aspects of the presentinvention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects.

The present subject matter is described with reference to schematics,flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods and apparatussystems according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understoodthat each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams,and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or blockdiagrams may also be implemented by computer program instructions. Thesecomputer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. The equations in the specification and theflowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each equation orblock in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module,segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executableinstructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). Itshould also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, thefunctions might occur out of the order as presented herein. For example,two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each equation in the specification, and each block of the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks inthe block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented byspecial purpose hardware-based systems that per form the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the subject matter (particularly in the context ofthe following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular andthe plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended toserve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separatevalue falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, andeach separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. Furthermore, the foregoing description isfor the purpose of illustration only, and not for the purpose oflimitation, as the scope of protection sought is defined by the claimsas set forth hereinafter together with any equivalents thereof entitledto. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “suchas”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illustrate thesubject matter and does not pose a limitation on the scope of thesubject matter unless otherwise claimed. The use of the term “based on”and other like phrases indicating a condition for bringing about aresult, both in the claims and in the written description, is notintended to foreclose any other conditions that bring about that result.No language in the specification should be construed as indicating anynon-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention asclaimed.

Preferred embodiments are described herein, including the best modeknown to the inventor for carrying out the claimed subject matter. Ofcourse, variations of those preferred embodiments will become apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoingdescription. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ suchvariations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the claimedsubject matter to be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein. Accordingly, this claimed subject matter includes allmodifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in theclaims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, anycombination of the above-described elements in all possible variationsthereof is encompassed unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwiseclearly contradicted by context.

The disclosures of any references and publications cited above areexpressly incorporated by reference in their entireties to the sameextent as if each were incorporated by reference individually.

We claim:
 1. A system for monitoring person position in a person supportapparatus, comprising: a person support apparatus comprising a lowerframe, a variably elevatable upper frame with respect to the lower frameand at least one side rail; at least one image capture device coupled tosaid person support apparatus; a processor configured to communicatewith said at least one image capture device, said processor configuredto detect facial features from said communication; a timer configured tocommunicate with said processor, said timer configured to reset to apredetermined value upon receiving a command from said processorindicating motion of a person supported by a person support apparatushas exceeded a predetermined threshold as determined by said processorupon processing said communication from said at least one image capturedevice.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least one image capturedevice is mounted on said at least one side rail.
 3. A system formonitoring person position in a person support apparatus, comprising: atleast one image capture device; a processor configured to communicatewith said at least one image capture device, said processor configuredto detect facial features from said communication; a timer configured tocommunicate with said processor, said timer configured to reset to apredetermined value upon receiving a command from said processorindicating motion of a person supported by a person support apparatushas exceeded a predetermined threshold as determined by said processorupon processing said communication from said at least one image capturedevice.
 4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a memory deviceconfigured to communicate with said processor, said memory deviceconfigured to store said at least one value of said predeterminedthreshold.
 5. The system of claim 3 further comprising a graphical userinterface configured to communicate with said processor, said graphicaluser interface configured to allow user input to establish saidpredetermined threshold.
 6. The system of claim 5, said graphical userinterface configured to display a message indicating person position. 7.The system of claim 3 further comprising a communication networkconfigured to communicate with said processor.
 8. The system of claim 3further comprising at least one electronic medical record configured tocommunicate with said communication network.
 9. The system of claim 3further comprising a nurse call system configured to communicate withsaid communication network.
 10. The system of claim 3 further comprisinga communication station configured to communicate with saidcommunication network.
 11. The system of claim 3 further comprising analarm configured to communicate with said communication network.
 12. Thesystem of claim 3 wherein said at least one image capture device ismounted in a siderail of a person support apparatus.
 13. The system ofclaim 3 wherein said at least one image capture device is mounted in atleast one of a head board or foot board of a person support apparatus.14. The system of claim 3 further comprising an alarm configured tocommunicate with said processor, said alarm configured to be triggeredby said processor.
 15. The system of claim 14, said alarm is triggeredby said processor if said motion of a person supported by a personsupport apparatus does not exceed said predetermined threshold after apredetermined time duration.
 16. The system of claim 3 wherein saidprocessor controls at least one function of a person support apparatus.17. A method of monitoring patient position in a hospital bedcomprising: capturing a first image and determining if a person is in afirst position; capturing a second image if a person is not in saidfirst position and determining if a person is in a second position;capturing a third image if a person is not in said second position anddetermining if a person is in a third position.
 18. The method of claim17 wherein said determination if a person is in said first position ismade by searching for at least one facial feature in said first image.19. The method of claim 18 wherein said at least one facial featurecomprises at least one of position of eyes, position of eyelids,position of nose, position of at least one ear, position of nose andposition of at least one lip.
 20. The method of claim 17 furthercomprising the operation of determining the length of time the person isin any one of said first position, said second position and said thirdposition.
 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the operation oftriggering an alarm if the said length of time exceeds a predeterminedthreshold.
 22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the operationof logging patient position over time.
 23. The method of claim 17further comprising the operation of triggering an alarm if a person isnot in said third position.
 24. A method of monitoring patient positionin a hospital bed comprising: capturing an image; determining at leastone facial feature from said image; determining motion of said at leastone facial feature over a predetermined period of time; triggering analarm if said motion over said predetermined period of time is less thana predetermined threshold.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein said atleast one facial feature comprises at least one of position of eyes,position of eyelids, position of nose, position of at least one ear,position of nose and position of at least one lip.
 26. A system formonitoring person position in a person support apparatus, comprising: atleast one image capture device; a processor configured to communicatewith said at least one image capture device, said processor configuredto detect facial features from said communication, said processorcomprising a timer, said timer configured to reset to a predeterminedvalue indicating motion of a person supported by a person supportapparatus has exceeded a predetermined threshold, as determined by saidprocessor upon processing said communication from said at least oneimage capture device.